Media Alert

Honoring the History of Parkview Hospital and Celebrating the Future of Yuma Regional Medical Center

Two-part event recognizes commitment to community, the significance of the past and pledge to the future

May 12, 2014- Yuma, AZ- On Saturday, May 17, 2014, Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) will host a two-part event to honor the history of Parkview Hospital and celebrate the future of YRMC, the new Emergency Department and the hospital's unwavering commitment to the Yuma community.

Beginning at 6 p.m., community leaders, YRMC executives, physicians, staff and board members will gather at the site of the original Parkview Hospital for a ceremony to commemorate the hospital's original structure, pay homage to the history within its walls and remember the physicians and caregivers who have dedicated countless hours to our patients, families and the community since Parkview's founding in 1958. Just as the program honors the past, it will celebrate YRMC's future and the groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art, expanded Emergency Department.

"Many of our community members have seen the recent transformations to YRMC's campus, but it is important for us to remember that our hospital has been evolving since its inception in 1958," said Pat Walz, President & CEO of YRMC. "Our growth and future was made possible by the physicians, staff and community leaders that came before us and their commitment to bring superior healthcare to the Yuma community. On this day we thank them, remember them and make a promise to continue that vision for years to come."

Following the intimate ceremony at 6 p.m., the community is invited to join YRMC in continuing the celebration with an outdoor 3D screening of the Disney Pixar movie "UP," a film with an underlying theme of adventure, future and resiliency. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. so guests can claim their spots in open lawn seating, enjoy concessions and family activities. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets and can park in the YRMC Employee Garage located on Avenue A. The movie will begin at promptly 7:45 p.m. Guests must reserve their tickets in advance by visiting www.yumaregional.org.

"Just as we will be saying good-bye to our original Parkview building, we will be rejoicing in the future of our new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department," said Machele Headington, Vice President of Communication & Marketing for YRMC. "I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than with our community, families and friends - the people and patients we have in mind when making every decision regarding the future of YRMC."

Yuma Regional Medical Center is a 406-bed, not-for-profit hospital dedicated to providing outstanding medical care to the residents of Yuma and the surrounding communities in southwestern Arizona. The YRMC team includes over 2,000 employees, 300 doctors and hundreds of volunteers who work closely together to create a welcoming, caring, and compassionate environment for patients and their families.